Watch Paparazzi

Golfer Justin Thomas spotted wearing Rolex

Justin Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner and one of the most decorated golfers of his generation, was photographed wearing the Rolex Yacht-Master 40 in steel and platinum, reference 116622 — a reference that has quietly built one of the most loyal followings in the modern Rolex catalogue without ever demanding the spotlight.

The Yacht-Master 116622 runs on the Rolex Calibre 3135, a self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve, Parachrom hairspring, and chronometer certification from COSC. The 40mm Oyster case in 904L stainless steel is water-resistant to 100 metres, paired with a bidirectional rotatable bezel machined entirely from platinum — a detail that elevates the 116622 well above typical steel sports watches. The dial has been offered in several variants over the years, including rhodium, blue, and dark rhodium, each catching platinum's cool tone differently. The Oyster bracelet with its Easylink 5mm comfort extension rounds out a package that wears with surprising versatility.

Introduced in the 116622's current configuration through the mid-2000s and produced until Rolex retired it in favour of the updated 126622, this reference represents the last full expression of the classic 40mm Yacht-Master before the Calibre 3235 era. Collectors value it for exactly that reason — it's a closed chapter, with finite production and a movement that already has decades of proven reliability behind it. The platinum bezel develops a distinct patina with wear, something many owners consider a feature rather than a flaw.

For Thomas, whose career includes 15 PGA Tour victories and a Ryder Cup pedigree, the Yacht-Master 116622 signals understated taste rather than conspicuous flex. It is not the loudest watch in the Rolex portfolio, but it is arguably the most considered choice for someone who understands both craft and restraint. Among professional golfers, Rolex sponsorships and personal collections alike skew heavily toward the brand, but the Yacht-Master often emerges as the personal pick over the more obvious Submariner or Daytona.

On the secondary market, the 116622 in desirable dial variants typically trades between $12,000 and $16,000 depending on condition and dial colour, with blue and rhodium examples commanding the firmest premiums. Its retail window has closed with the model's discontinuation, making grey-market pricing the only route for new buyers — and those prices have held steady.